Complete the experiment
Russia's "unique S-500" air defense system integrates all the advantages of "huge" missiles such as the PAC-3, Aegis, THAAD of the US. The S-500 not only fights against aircraft, missiles and space weapons but also low-altitude Earth orbit satellites.
According to Defense World, this Russian weapons complex has completed state-level testing and is preparing to be deployed in the Russian army.
"Currently, a number of tests have been conducted with rocket launches of anti-aircraft guided missile targeting air targets. All tests have been completed with positive results," said Major General Sergei Babakov, Commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces' Rocket Defense Forces, in an interview with the Russian Defense Ministry's Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.
Babakov added that the S-500 systems have been "planned to be included in the armed forces' equipment system".
The S-500's basic task is to destroy medium-range ballistic missiles "and, if necessary, destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles at the end of their flight path," Major General Babokov said. The system is also capable of shot down hypersonic aircraft, aircraft and drones.
"The characteristics of the S500 system allow the destruction of in addition to aerodynamic and ballistic targets, and the destruction of hypersonic weapons of all versions, including in close cosmic space. We can confidently say that there is absolutely nothing similar to this system," Mr. Sergei Babakov emphasized.
Last month, Izvestia reported that Russia had tested a completely new missile from the S500 complex.
At the end of May, President Vladimir Putin announced that the S-500 air defense system would soon be put into combat by Russia. The mass supply is expected in 2025.
Superior ability
The S 500 is known as a space defense system thanks to its ability to destroy targets in low-orbit space in addition to hypersonic missiles, medium-range ballistic missiles and ICBMs. The S500 was developed by Almaz-Antey Group, which is also a manufacturing group of the S-400 and S-300 systems.
The S500 is expected to have a range of up to 600km compared to the S-400's 400km. The radar's range is also higher than the S-400 and the system will have the potential to destroy hypersonic targets and ballistic missiles with intercept missiles operating at altitudes of more than 185km.
In previous tests, the S-500 was believed to have hit a target missile from a distance of 480km, the longest attack by any air defense system. According to unofficial information, the S-500 has a response time of about 3-4 seconds, less than half of the 9-10 seconds of the S-400.
The main missile of the S-500 air defense system is the 40N6 - a two-story, 9m long solid fuel missile, capable of reaching a speed of 9 Mach with a 500km range and a 95% accuracy.
The S 500 will use two new types of missiles: 77N6-N and 77N6-N1 - the first Russian missile with a bare bullet, capable of destroying nuclear warheads with impact force. The missiles will attack ballistic missiles at an altitude of 185km to significantly reduce the impact of debris.
The S-500's closest Western opponent is the US-made patriot PAC-3. Both systems are capable of shot down both aircraft and ballistic missiles. If Russia's claims that the S500 system can destroy hypersonic missiles and low-altitude Earth rotation satellites are correct, the S500 is certainly superior to patriot.
According to old reports, patriot missiles can shoot down targets at speeds of 8km/h. It can simultaneously attack 36 targets and track 125 targets at the same time. patriot can locate aircraft at a distance of 180km and enemy missiles at a distance of 100km.
The S500 is said to be able to simultaneously detect and attack 10 hypersonic targets at a speed of 5-7km/h. It can also destroy hypersonic cruise missiles and other aerial targets, as well as spaceships at speeds higher than Mach 5, at altitudes that can reach up to 180-200km.
patriot's deployment time is 25 minutes. The S500 could be better than its US counterpart because even its predecessor, the S-400 system, has a deployment time of only 5 minutes.
